Electrical feeler in loom transferrer arm



Oct. 30, 1928.

R. G. TURNER ELECTRICAL FEELER IN LOOM TRANSEERRER ARM Filed NOV. 26,. 1926 l l IIil INVENTOF? Patented Oct. 30, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD GREENLEAF TURNER, OF WORCESTER, IVIASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CROMPTON KNOWLES LOOM WORKS, 0F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A. COR- PORATION 0F MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRICAL FEELER IN LOOM TRANSFERRER ARM.

Application filed November, 1926. Serial No. 150,696.

llhis invention relates to improvements in weft detectors for filling changing looms and it is the principal object of the invention to provide a detector employing an electrical circuit part of which is located on a regularly moving transferrer arm. v

In certain types of looms, such as those shown in patent to Ryon No. 1,372,316, the transferrer arm is given a downward movement toward tlie bobbin on each detecting beat of the loom. As heretofore constructed these transferrers have been provided with mechanically or pneumatically operating detectors which, under certain conditions, are found not to be as sensitive as desired. lt is an important object of my present invention to provide transferir-er arm with yielding plungers or similar devices electrically connected to an electric circuit for the purpose of controlling an indicating element.

It is a more specific object of my invention to provide a regularly moving transferrer arm with an electroemagnet and a plunger releasing detent, said latch having an armature to be attracted by the electro magnet to release the plunger when the yarn :in the active shuttle has been depleted sutli ciently to permit metallic contact between a portion of the bobbin and a portion of the electric circuit carried on the transferrer arm. f

rfransferrer arms for looms of the type spccied have a quick downward movement toward the bobbin to detect the condition of the lilling and the arm also has an upward movement which cooperates with bobbin re leasing devices forming a part of the multicolor replenishing mechanism. lt is desir able to prevent a closing of the electric circuit while the transferrer arm is in its upper position, even Ythough the contact parts thereof are electrically connected. Accordingly, it isa further object of my invention to provide an additional means for opening the circuit when the transferrer arm is in upper position.

Vith these and other objects which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention relatesto the arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is shown Fig. is a diagram showing a transferrer arm and actuating mechanism therefor having my invention applied thereto,

.Fig 2 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. l on an enlarged scale, with the arm in a different position,

Fig. 3 is a detail top plan taken in the direction of arrow 3, Fig. 2,

`Fig. l is an enlarged rear elevation taken in the direction of arrow ll, Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section on line of Fig. 2,

F ig. 6 is a detailed vertical section on line 6-6 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. is a horizontal section en line 7-7 of Fie'. 5. i

teferring to Fig. l the loom frame l0 supports a weft replenishing mechanism ll more particularly of the multi-color 'type and having a transferrer arm 1Q pivoted as at 13. A vertical rod 14 attached as at l5 to the transferrer arm connected at the lower end thereof to a rocking lever 16, the rear of which is provided with a ball l?. The latter is received by a groove 18 formed in a cam i9 which rotates about shaft 20. Said shaft may be the bottom shaft of the loom and rotates once every second pick of the loorfso that the transferrer arm completes its cycle in two piel-is.

As shown in Figs. Ll and 5, that port-ion `of the transferrer arm indicated at 2l which lies over the bobbin B has slidably mounted thereon a plunger 22 which is normally held :in non-indicating position by a latch Q3 pivoted to the transferrer arm at 2li and counter weighted so as to lie normally in the position shown in Fig. 1l. The plunger eirtends through a web 25 and has a. head 2G which is held by a hook of the latch 23. A compression spring 27 is interposed between the web 25 and the indicating head 28 of the plunger and tends to move the latter to the indicating position shown in Fig. 5 when ever the latch 23 is raiser.. Eis the transferrer arm is raised with the plunger 22 in the position shown in Fig. 5 the indicator head 28 will cooperate with parts, not shown ierein but set forth in the aforesaid patent to give the replenishing mechanism an initial movement preparatory to transfer. The matter thus tar described is oi. common construction and terms no part of my present invention.

In carrying out my improvements I provide each of the bobbins B with a. metallic 'terrule l() normally covered by yarn as indicated in Fig. Je, but which upon substantial exhaustion ot weit will be uncovered. l further provide the transferrer arm with a pair ot contact plungers Lll and 4Q, respe: tively, each having a shoulder el?) which receives the downward thrust oil a. compression spring ila- The plunger 4l is guided by and has direct electrical contact with` a cap secured to 'the transfer-rer arm shown in Fig. 6. Plun ger 42 is insulated from the transterrer arm and slides in upper and lower bearings 4G and fl-i', respectively, made ot libre or other insulating material. The compression spring ot plunger l2 lies between the bearings 4l@ and Ll? so as to be electrically insulated trom the transterrer arm.

In order to control the latch 23 I provide the same with a depending arm 4S normally resting against a pin stt) in the transterrer arm and having the lower end thereot ii'ormed shown in Fig. 'T with an offset armature 50. 'Ihe latter is lormed of magnetic material and is normally spaced 'from the core 5l et' an electro-magnet 52 held to the ti'ansierrer arm in lined position, as shown in Fig.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 2 an d 3 a bracket 53 :termed oit insulating material is mounted on the transterrer arm and supports a spring contact member A stationary spring contact member 55 is secured to and insulated from the trame l0 of the leoni and is so placed as to have contact with the member when the transterrer is down and spaced therefrom when the transterrer arm is raised.

rl'he devices are electrically connected by having one end of a wire 5G secured to shoulder il?) oi. plunger #12, and the other end thereot connected to the magnet 52. The other side olf the magnet is connected by wire 57 to the bracket 53 and member 54. rIhe spring member is connected by wire 58 to one side of a battery 59 the other side ot which is grounded to the loom trame l y wire GO.

ils the trans'lferrer arm reaches the lower limit ot its movement on a detecting pick the members 5l and 55 will be brmightinto electrical contact, but so long as terrul'e Ll() is covered no current will tlow as the plungers are electrically disconnected. lV hen the weit is depleted, however, and both plungers are in metallic contact with ferrule 40, the current will pass from battery 59 through wire 58, contact members 55 and 5a, respectively, bracket 53, wire 57, electro-magnet 52, wire 56, plunger 42, ierrule 4l() to phmger ell. The latter', being grounded to the loom frame, closes the circuit so that current will flow around core 5l and the armature 50 will be attracted, moving the latch to the position shown in Fig. 5, thereupon releasing plunger 29 so that spring E27 may move the same to indicating' position.

As soon as the transterrer arm is raised the circuit is broken at two points, i. e. the plungers leave the terrulc and the members 5l and separate. rThe armature 50 will there- 'llore be released so that as the plunger is returned to normal position on the continued upward movement o'l the transierrer arm, the latch 23 will be 'tree to engage the head QU.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a regularlymoving transterrer arm with a. portion ot an electrical circuit whirh is closed at the time oll wett depletion to etect indication oit we t't exhaustion. Furthermore, it will be seen that the circuit is broken at two points when the transllerrer arm is raised, so that accidental closing ol the gap across the plungers will not operate to release the plunger with the transferrer arm raised, because ot the tact that inen'ibers 5st and 55 are out ot contact with each other. lllhire I have shown the electron'iagnet as mounted directly on the transterrer arm, and have shown vtwo bobbin engaging element to close the circuit at the time otl wel't exhaustion, yet l do not wish to be limited to these constructions, as I believe I am the tiret lo ellect indication oi" weltexhaustion in a lilling changing loom by a circuit which is closed by the movement ot a translerrer arm.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereoit, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set lorth in the claims7 but what I claim is:

l. In an electrical weft detector for looms operating with bobbins having an electric current conducting portion normally covered by weft, a normally open electric circuit including a source of power and member to be energized by electric current to indicate wett exhaustion, said electric circuit normally having two gaps therein, a transferrer arm having a movement toward the surface to be detected on each detecting beat ol the loom, means carried by the transterrer arm to close one of the gaps in the circuit on each detecting beat ot the loom, and additional means carried by the transferrer arm to have contact with the electric current conducting portion of the bobbin on indicating beats of the loom, whereby the other gap oit said circuit will be closed at exhaustion of wett to energize the member.

2. In an electrical welt detector for looms operating with bobbins having an electric current conducting portion normally covered by weft, a transferrer arm having a movement toward the bobbin on each detecting beat of the loom, an electric circuit including a source of power, and an electrical device to be energized when the current ows through the circuit to control indication of weft exhaustion, said circuit being normally open at two points, and means car ried by the transfer-rer arm to close the opening in the circuit at one of the points on each detecting beat of the loom and to close said circuit at both the points when the said conducting portion is uncovered.

3. In an electrical weft detector mechanism for looms operating with bobbins having an electric current conducting portion normally covered by yarn, a transferrer arm having a regular movement toward the bobbin on detecting beats of the loom, a spring pressed plunger mounted on the transferrer arm and normally held in non-indicating position, an electro-magnet mounted on the transferrer .arm and controlling the plunger, an electric circuit including a source of power and the electro-magnet detect-ing elements mounted on the transferrer arm and electrically connected to said circuit, said detecting elements being electrically connected together when weft is depleted to such an extent that said elements may have contact with the electric current conducting portions of the bobbins to close the circuit to energize the magnet.

4:. In an electrical weft detecting mechanism for looms, a transferrer arm having a regular movement toward the surface to be detected on each detecting beat of the loom, an electrical weft detector mounted on the transferrer arm, to be brought in contact with the surface to be detected each detecting beat of the loom, an indicating device, an electric controller for said device, and an electrical circuit including the detector and controller and adapted to be closed at weft exhaustion by the transferrer arm as the same moves toward the surface to be detected.

5. In an electrical weft detector for looms, a transferrer arm having a regular movement toward the surface to be detected, an indicating device, an electric controller for said device, an electric circuit including a source of power and said electric controller, and a detecting element in the circuit and mounted on said transfert-er arm and carried toward the surface to be detected by thc transfcrrer arm to close the circuit at substantial exhaustion of weft, at such times only as the transferrer arm is in down position.

6. In an electrical weft detector for looms, a normally open electric circuit, an indicating` device effective to indicate when the circuit is closed, an electric controller for the device included in the electric circuit, a transferrer arm movable toward the surface to be detected, and means carried by the transferrer arm to close the circuit at weft exhaustion as the transferrer approaches the surface to be detected to actuate said controller for the indicating device.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

RICHARD GREENLEAF TURNER. 

